Armaveni by Nadine Takvorian – Book Recommendation

April 2, 2026March 12, 2026 | Tasha

Armaveni by Nadine Takvorian

Publisher: Levine Querido
Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Reviewed from copy provided by publisher
ISBN: 9781646146369

Nadine doesn’t know anything about her Armenian family’s history except that they survived the Armenian genocide. Her parents refuse to share the stories with her and her brother. Then one day, her mother begins to share about Armaveni, Nadine’s grandmother and the incredibly impossible choices that had to be made for survival as the genocide closed around them in Armenia and Turkey. When Nadine is given the opportunity to visit what used to be Armenia with a school group, she and her brother also include a visit to their relatives who live in Turkey. Along the way, they learn about their homeland, and continued racism and bigotry, which Nadine discovers is very close to home. Learning from her grandmother, Nadine finds the courage to stand up for her family in new ways.

This is one of those books that opens an aching hole in your center as you read it. Through the graphic novel format, Takvorian brings readers into Nadine’s family and alongside her we learn about the Armenian genocide from the perspective of one family while also realizing how many people were murdered, displaced and lost. Seeing that this is a debut graphic novel is just amazing, particularly done by a solo artist/author. It is based on the author’s own experiences and family, which resonates through the entire book.

A shining example of what graphic novels can be. Appropriate for ages 13+.

Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks – Book Recommendation

March 31, 2026March 10, 2026 | Tasha

Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks

Publisher: First Second
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
Reviewed from Netgalley e-galley
ISBN: 9781250838759

Twin sisters, Sloane and Ash, no longer look alike thanks to different hairstyles and colors. They do share a love of art and animation. The two of them decide to spend their summer vacation attending Ormidale College’s animation program for high school students. Ash is excited to start, certain of her skills and sure she is going to love being taught by one of her animation heroes. Sloane is more hesitant, unsure of the new environment and making new friends, and not quite as sure of what she wants to do in the future. The two girls must navigate challenging assignments, others being better at animation than they are, sexism by one of the teachers, and finding out that animation is more than just Disney movies.

Hicks is a master of the graphic novel format for middle schoolers and teens. Here she deftly shows how two very different sisters find their way and discover more about themselves through learning animation. Particularly nice is the fact that the confident Ash is not the one who makes the first connections and friendships with others. The clear sexism on display by one of the teachers is clearly shown and then explained by one of the other adults as an ongoing issue in animation studios.

Charming, fresh and full of animation tips and art love. Appropriate for ages 12+.

Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier – book Recommendation

March 25, 2026March 3, 2026 | Tasha

Wake Now in the Fire by Jarrett Dapier, illustrated by AJ Dungo

Publisher: Ten Speed
Publication Date: February 3, 2026
Reviewed from library copy
ISBN: 9780593838044

When Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, a graphic novel that shares the atrocities that happened in Iran, gets pulled from classrooms in Chicago Public Schools, the teachers, principals and librarians must comply. Some teachers move their classroom titles to the school libraries to keep them from being destroyed. But it is the students who stand up and rise up to protest them being removed. This graphic novel about a true event that happened in Chicago in 2013 shares the stories of several of the teens who took action when the school district made the decision to remove the title from curriculum. The book shows how students dealing with other events in their lives found community and solace in shared action.

The author of this work won an award from ALA for his work exposing this story of book censorship. His afterwords about the claims of Chicago Public Schools and what eventually was proven is alone brilliant to read. In the graphic novel, he shows students and teens the power of collaboration, protest and resistance. Throughout he shares how a variety of students can take their own unique form of action and how it all comes together to force changes to be made. The art is dynamic and marvelously modern, almost like art from a protest sign or banner.

Brilliant, rage-filled and action inducing, this graphic novel is entirely perfect for our time. Appropriate for ages 12+.

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord – Book Recommendation

March 24, 2026March 3, 2026 | Tasha

Queen of Faces by Petra Lord

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Publication Date: February 3, 2026
Reviewed from library copy
ISBN: 9781250362971

In a world where the wealthy can switch bodies whenever they want or need to, Ana finds herself stuck in a decaying body of an Edgar, the lowest level body available when her last one caught an infection. Ana can’t afford a new body, unless she can start to make money. But when she fails the entrance exam for Paragon, the top magical school, for a third time, she can’t find another way out. Then the headmaster of Paragon offers her a deal. Become a mercenary for hire for him and she can start working as a servant at Paragon, a way to potentially be considered as a student. Given no choice, Ana agrees, but she soon discovers that heroes can be villains and opportunities can be traps.

Wow.This is one incredible fantasy novel that weaves dark academia with dystopia with trans elements. It is done skillfully and with such passion. The switching of bodies and genders is a core element of the book, speaking to people feeling disconnected with the body they are currently in and being able to become alluring and gorgeous if they have enough money and luck. The entire cast of characters is beautifully rendered and complex with heroes and villains intertwined at times.

A great teen fantasy with an LGBTQIA+ heart. Appropriate for ages 13+.

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi – Book Recommendation

March 18, 2026February 25, 2026 | Tasha

The Swan’s Daughter by Roshani Chokshi

Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: January 6, 2026
Reviewed from library copy
ISBN: 9781250873101

Demelza is the daughter of a veritas swan and an evil sorcerer. Her sisters are all veritas swans themselves, able to transform and whose beautiful voices force the truth from others. Demelza though takes after her father more. She doesn’t have wings and her voice is hurtful to the ears. Across the land, Prince Arris has put out a call for eligible girls to apply to be his bride. Arris lives under a family curse where he is doomed to likely be killed by his bride for power over the throne. Demelza heads to the prince’s realm to try to help, also escaping death by her father’s hand. Can these two find the way through the magic and curses that bind them?

This YA novel is a delight. Both of the lead characters are a joy to spend time with. From Arris who is trying to make the most of his short life by clinging to every beautiful experience he can to Demelza who is trying to figure out who she is outside of her mother and father’s needs. The two stumble together through the book, their connection growing beautifully across the story in a genuine way. Even better, the secondary characters are also rendered completely. Both sets of parents have complex love stories of their own, the contestants for Arris’ hand are marvelous, and Arris’ sister steals every scene she enters.

One of the best teen romatasies, this one is worth losing your heart to. Appropriate for ages 12+.

LA Times Book Prize Finalists

February 26, 2026February 25, 2026 | Tasha

The LA Times has announced the finalists for their annual book prizes. The prizes span genres, including audiobooks, nonfiction categories, graphic novels, fiction, fiction genres, and YA literature. Here are the finalists for the Young Adult Literature category:

FINALISTS

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Tung Le Nguyen

The Corruption of Hollis Brown by K. Ancrum

King of the Neuro Verse by Idris Goodwin

My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser by Jamie Jo Hoang

Truth Is by Hannah V. Sawyerr

2026 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

February 19, 2026February 12, 2026 | Tasha

The Young Adult Library Services Association has selected their list of Great Graphic Novels for Teens. The list includes nonfiction and fiction graphic literature. A top ten was selected; here are those titles:

TOP TEN

Eden of Witches by Yumeji (Volumes 1-5)

Halfway There: A Graphic Memoir of Self-Discovery by Christine Mari

Hunger’s Bite by Taylor Robin

Kindergarten Wars by You Chiba

Love, Misha by Askel Aden

Meat Eaters by Meredith McClaren

Monster Locker, Volume 1 by Jorge Aguirre

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout

Spacewalking with You, Volume 1 by Inuhiko Doronoda

You and Me on Repeat by Mary Shyne

2026 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

February 18, 2026February 12, 2026 | Tasha

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has selected over 60 titles for its Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list. This is one of my favorite lists every year, since it often includes books that did not gather attention during the previous year but that teens will check out and use in our library. The books are selected for ages 12-18. A top ten list is part of the selection. Here are those titles:

TOP TEN

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson

The Assassin’s Guide to Babysitting by Natalie C. Parker

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

The Factory by Catherine Egan

Family Force V: Book One by Matt Braly, illustrated by Ainsworth Lin

Out of Air by Rachel Reiss

The Story of My Anger by Jasmine Mendez

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now… by Jason Reynolds

When We Ride by Rex Ogle

2026 Best Fiction for Young Adults

February 17, 2026February 12, 2026 | Tasha

The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has announced their list of the best fiction for teens. The list covers books written for 12-18 year-olds that “incorporate outstanding literary quality and effectiveness of presentation, as well as appeal to the personal reading tastes of the teens.” The list includes over 60 titles with a top ten list. Here are the top ten titles:

TOP TEN